Rebar offers from three local producers were broadly stable week-on-week.
One mill was hoping to get 2,640 zloty ($660) per tonne ex-works. Another producer was quoting rebar for the local market at 2,660 zloty per tonne CPT, roughly equivalent to 2,630-2,640 zloty per tonne ex-works. A third producer was hoping to get 2,680 zloty per tonne CPT, about 2,650-2,660 zloty per tonne ex-works.
Rare transactions were reported within the range of 2,600-2,650 zloty per tonne ex-works during the week. Mills in the region were able to offer rebar from stock with quick shipment, market sources said.
“As usual during summer vacations, demand [for rebar] is rather weak, but mills are reluctant to cut prices to less than 2,600 zloty [per tonne ex-works],” a trading source said.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, exw Poland, was 2,600-2,650 zloty per tonne on Friday, stable week on week.
In the secondary market, rebar prices were reported at 2,750 zloty per tonne CPT, compared with 2,750-2,800 zloty per tonne CPT in the preceding week.
Current prices were expected to be maintained over the next 2-3 weeks amid the traditional summer trading lull. In September, however, market sources expected to see a rebound in demand from the construction industry.
“Everyone is hoping for better demand in September,” a second source said. “There are many projects waiting for building permits.” This was because the Polish government was offering subsidies to people purchasing their first apartments, so there was not enough housing stock on offer at the moment.
Wire rod
The wire rod market has also been quiet recently, with prices said to be stabilizing.
Official offers of low-carbon drawing-quality wire rod issued by local steelmakers were reported at 2,800-2,900 zloty per tonne CPT this week, although the upper end of that range was deemed unworkable by most buyers.
In fact, sources reported that one local mill was actually selling wire rod at lower prices of 2,750-2,760 zloty per tonne CPT.
One deal for a low tonnage was reported at 2,800 zloty per tonne CPT.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (drawing quality), domestic, delivered Poland, was 2,750-2,800 zloty per tonne on Friday, unchanged since July 7.
Import wire rod offers to Poland were also seen as stable over the past seven days.
One Ukrainian supplier was offering mesh-quality wire rod from stock at €610-615 ($674-680) per tonne CPT depending on tonnage, sources said.
Transactions for small lots were heard within the range during the week to Friday.
Another Ukrainian supplier was offering mesh-quality wire rod at €570 per tonne DAP border, which would net back to about €595-600 per tonne CPT.
Both Ukrainian mills were said to have limited allocations for exports, with both citing improved demand for long steel in Ukraine and a priority on domestic sales.
Offers from an Italian mill were reported at €600-610 per tonne CPT for mesh-quality wire rod with August delivery.
And a mill in Moldova was offering drawing-quality wire rod at €620 per tonne CPT, also flat week-on-week.
Published by: Julia Bolotova
